Machine-assisted translation by Human-in-the-loop Crowdsourcing for Bambara

Language is more than a tool of conveying information; it is utilized in all aspects of our lives. Yet only a small number of languages in the 7,000 languages worldwide are highly resourced by human language technologies (HLT). Despite African languages representing over 2,000 languages, only a few African languages are highly resourced, for which there exists a considerable amount of parallel digital data. We present a novel approach to machine translation (MT) for under-resourced languages by improving the quality of the model using a paradigm called ``humans in the Loop.\u27\u27 This thesis describes the work carried out to create a Bambara-French MT system including data discovery, data preparation, model hyper-parameter tuning, the development of a crowdsourcing platform for humans in the loop, vocabulary sizing, and segmentation. We present a novel approach to machine translation (MT) for under-resourced languages by improving the quality of the model using a paradigm called ``humans in the Loop.\u27\u27 We achieved a BLEU (bilingual evaluation understudy) score of 17.5. The results confirm that MT for Bambara, despite our small data set, is viable. This work has the potential to contribute to the reduction of language barriers between the people of Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world

Supporting Collaboration in Mobile Environments

Continued rapid improvements in the hardware capabilities of mobile computing devices is driving a parallel need for a paradigm shift in software design for such devices with the aim of ushering in new classes of software applications for devices of the future. One such class of software application is collaborative applications that seem to reduce the burden and overhead of collaborations on human users by providing automated computational support for the more mundane and mechanical aspects of a cooperative effort. This dissertation addresses the research and software engineering questions associated with building a workflow-based collaboration system that can operate across mobile ad hoc networks, the most dynamic type of mobile networks that can function without dependence on any fixed external resources. While workflow management systems have been implemented for stable wired networks, the transition to a mobile network required the development of a knowledge management system for improving the predictability of the network topology, a mobility-aware specification language to specify workflows, and its accompanying algorithms that help automate key pieces of the software. In addition to details of the formulation, design, and implementation of the various algorithms and software components. this dissertation also describes the construction of a custom mobile workflow simulator that can be used to conduct simulation experiments that verify the effectiveness of the approaches presented in this document and beyond. Also presented are empirical results obtained using this simulator that show the effectiveness of the described approaches

Federal Register

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii

Normalizing accidents: cars, carnage and the disappearance of social problems

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThis dissertation probes critical questions about the relationship between the production of cultural meanings, social power, and material objects. By using the public discourse on traffic accidents in the United States as a historical case study, this study investigates in particular the various ways by which social groups respond to unintended technological consequences and dangers within definitional processes of collectively constructing a social problem. The textual-thematic analysis draws largely upon theories from social problems literature and science & technology studies, as it looks at a number of salient historical claimsmakers, sites of discourse production, and cultural vehicles of meaning making. Specifically, the contributions of the private insurance industry, safety establishment, consumer market, automobile clubs, and printed media are closely dissected to flesh out the contours and content of the accident problem's construction and development through time. In line with a contextual constructivist approach to social problems analysis, the research has observed the emergence, evolution, and eventual waning of the accident issue along several structural anchors that provide possible explanations for some of these dynamics. To a great extent, the traffic accident problem has gradually 'disappeared' in America throughout the twentieth century - a disappearance that is not physical but conceptual. Specifically, it means that the troubling social condition is defined as something to live with, a necessary evil of which there seems to be limited ability or desire to substantially affect or eradicate. The sociological concept I employ to name this particular trajectory towards problem attenuation is normalization. Applied to the case analyzed here, the findings offer a way to understand the processes by which traffic accidents become nom1alized in America as an acquiescent price to pay for the benefits of the automobile. Theoretically, these conclusions have laid the groundwork for producing a hypothetical model of social problems normalization. The model highlights the role played by several cultural devices of claimsmaking in affecting issue attenuation or 'disappearance.' When the problem is constructed through highly technicizing, commensurating, commodifying, and socially controlling modalities of sense making, the likelihood of its normalization and eventual floundering increases

An exploration of peer-mentoring among student teachers’ to inform reflective practice within the context of action research

In recent decades, reflective practice and mentoring have become vehicles for endorsing professional development and competency among student teachers during their induction into the teaching profession. This research study aims to explore the extent to which peer-mentoring can inform reflective practice among student teachers within a community of practice. The mentoring concepts illuminated within this study suggest a move away from hierarchical expert-novice approaches towards mentoring, in exchange for more reciprocal endeavour where power dynamics are removed and both participants become equal receivers and disseminators of knowledge regarding teaching and learning. A qualitative approach was employed through a four-phase, sequential data collection strategy to gather the narrative data collated. Interviews, reflective pro-formas, workshops and open-ended questionnaires were used as instruments to collate narrative data concerning the peer-mentoring experiences of four student teachers. The data was analysed utilising an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. The student teachers involved in this study were selected from a purposive sample. Importantly, the participants selected demonstrated professional characteristics which resonated with the aims of this study. A conceptual framework was designed to capture and examine six dimensions of collaborative mentoring in which student teachers could explore aspects of their own teaching practice through action research. The findings generated within the study point towards a range of contexts and challenges concerning peer-mentoring. The findings revealed that the mentoring dimensions used to stimulate meaningful reflection influenced professional development, while the challenges presented issues concerning; trust, power and time. However, the findings also indicate that challenges to peer-mentoring are not insurmountable. This particular study contends that further research is recommended into: firstly, how educational institutions can create supportive, collaborative learning cultures; secondly, how can reflective practice be encouraged throughout professional teaching careers; and finally, how can the challenges of peer-mentoring be minimised in attempting to encourage such endeavour among student teachers

Investigating the process of policy change with respect to leisure transport in UK National Parks

The National Parks of the United Kingdom are characterised by their beautiful countryside and spectacular rural landscapes. They are also significant leisure based trip attracting locations, the dominant transport mode being the private car which typically accounts for 90% of all journeys made to these destinations. Excessive car use in National Parks is problematic since traffic congestion, environmental degradation, vehicle noise and parking problems serve to undermine the natural and recreational values which they are intended to promote. As recognition of the negative impacts of car use in National Parks has grown, so have calls for innovation and experimentation in approaches to traffic management and transport policy in these locations. Despite this, policy change has been slow. Sustainable and effective solutions to transport problems in UK National Parks appear no nearer to being found now than they were sixty five years ago. Accordingly, this thesis seeks to investigate the process of policy change with respect to leisure transport in UK National Parks. The study adopts the Multiple Streams framework (Kingdon, 1984) as the mechanism by which to explore policy change in the sector, and a case study method is chosen as the overarching research approach. Within the case study design, a three stage research method is undertaken, consisting of a) documentary analysis combined with semi-structured interviews with Transport Officers at UK National Park Authorities, b) two sub case studies at the local level in the New Forest and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, and c) semi-structured interviews with National Park transport planning experts at the national level. The Multiple Streams framework is shown to accurately identify important processes and mechanisms which can be seen to account for policy stability (and therefore inhibit change) within the National Park transport planning sector. As such, the thesis concludes that at the present time there is no significant window for policy change with respect to leisure transport in UK National Parks. A number of barriers exist which make this so. First are perceptions of public and political apathy towards transport problems in the National Parks, and a lack of quantifiable data by which to ‗frame‘ these issues. Second are competing agendas of key delivery agencies in the policy sector, where conflict between economic and environment objectives limit the consideration of certain transport planning instruments for use. Third are issues surrounding the technical feasibility (in terms of implementation) and public acceptability of a range of transport planning instruments, and fourth is a lack of advocacy for policy change amongst the general public and politicians at the local and national level. In light of the research findings, recommendations and advice to policy makers and practitioners seeking change within the sector are offered